Monogram

I love monograms...do you?  Monograms are hugely popular right now.  Just go to a baby shower.  You'll see that baby's name or initials or something embroidered on everything from burp rags, to diaper bags, to bloomers.

I have a couple of items with a "W" on them...and one crocheted "Weaver" on the wall.  Recently, I ordered this monogram and applied to the big plain mirror in the living room...

Why do we love monograms?  I think because they make something personal...they show ownership...family spirit or whatever.  It made me think of my Heavenly Father.  I have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  He tells me that he has me engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16); that I am always in His memory!  He loves me...I belong to Him and He wants me to know it! 

Do you know Him?  Are you engraved on His hands?  All it takes is "A"...admit you are a sinner; "B"...believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins; and "C"...confess Him as your Lord and Savior...and you can have this relationship.  Then you will be engraved on His palms too!  How special that God made a way for everyone to know Him and He left us His Word to tell us that way.  He wants us to know exactly how much He loves His children!

Blessings!

YOU Drive...I'll Ride

I love a good mental picture...words or phrases that you can immediately see in your mind.  Ultimately, we only fully comprehend when we can process with a mental picture.  When someone talks about something I can't even begin to see in my mind...I'm lost...unfocused...clueless.  I don't know what they're talking about.

Years ago a group called FFH (I believe stands for Far From Home) had a song entitled, You Drive...I'll Ride.  This song has a catchy tune and good lyrics...and this is the mental image it brings to my mind:

I never saw this movie, Thelma and Louise, but I've seen bits, clips, and photos.  It's not a movie I recommend, it's the visual...a long, sleek convertible - one driving...the other simply riding.
One is in control...the other trusting.  The driver chooses to drive out over the Grand Canyon...the passenger controls the radio and simply rides.

In You Drive...I'll Ride the singer is relinquishing the steering wheel to God...it's about repentance, submission and yielding to God's will.  That's where I've been for a couple of weeks now...letting God break my heart again so I can yield...so I can hear the still small voice guiding me to His will...

"YOU take the wheel, I will work the radio
YOU take the wheel, we'll go where YOU want to go
YOU take the wheel, take it fast or take it slow
Wherever YOU choose I'm fine...
YOU drive...I'll ride"

Yielding...trusting...following...obeying...
Difficult?  You betcha!  But there is freedom and peace in giving up the steering wheel.
Do I know where I'm going?  Ultimately..."YOU'RE driving me home" -
I'm on a journey...when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior...my destination was settled - forever.

The roadmap however, is another story.  I have no idea where He is leading me...I have to follow...or
"ride along" day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. I've taken back the wheel so many times, and ended up on a side trip...losing my way...but oh, HE is faithful to draw me back...break my heart again...and I yield up the wheel one more time. And I'll confess, lately I feel like I'm soaring off into the Grand Canyon, scared and trembling. I know He is in control and He is Good and His purposes are BEST.

The truth is this...my destination was settled in 1972.  What God is interested in most now...is my journey. He is faithfully transforming me into the image of Christ, bit by bit...experience by experience...relationship by relationship...trauma by trauma...trouble by trouble...grace by grace...when I yield and trust and most of all, cooperate with Him, by handing the steering wheel back to His most capable hands.

So, my prayer today once again is...Lord, YOU drive...I'll ride.

Blessings!

Random Thoughts on Wisdom

This week was the scheduled time to have my wisdom teeth removed.  I opted for the sedation method - I am a chicken when it comes to any type of dentistry.  It went quite well I think.  This is Friday and I feel very much back to my old self.  My sweet Jill has taken very good care of me, allowing her Dad (my Jay) to go back home and take care of business there.

I find the name "wisdom" teeth very thought provoking.  These teeth do not make one wise.  Many people never have any.  There is the old adage, that when one cuts these teeth - one's life is half over.  And although they are named "wise", they are usually not very good teeth and do not last.  At the same time...when you mention wisdom teeth, everyone knows exactly which teeth you are talking about and their removal is felt with commiseration.

I am thankful wisdom is not dependent on a few teeth, aren't you?  Wisdom comes from our Heavenly Father and we must seek her (wisdom is feminine in scripture - Yay!) according to Proverbs and ask for her according to James.  Wisdom can come from experience...a very costly and painful school.  I feel I have gained a lot of wisdom in my 58 years.  On the other hand, sometimes I feel clueless.  It is what my husband would call an "oxymoron" I think.

Almost everyone has wondered why I am having these teeth removed now...am I not a little old?  It's just the way of my life.  Rarely have I done anything the way anyone else does...I always wanted to be different. LOL!  These wise teeth were causing harm to my dental health...and after being told and told for about 5 years that I needed them removed...I did it.  I am either stubborn, hard of hearing, or maybe not so wise after all??? 

It has allowed me some time with Jill and Amelia and Joy and her boys, even Kerri and Kandace came for a visit...time to be lazy and rest and think...hopefully I have even gained a little wisdom.

These are my random thoughts for a week of some pain, some discomfort, and a lot of love and care.  I am truly blessed, and hopefully a little wiser.

The Rest of the Story

This morning I woke at 4:30 and decided I would go ahead and get started on my day. I had my usual breakfast of Greek yogurt and blueberries and my major vice, Diet Dr. Pepper...my Bible study and prayer...and then running through the shower and getting ready for work.

I got my fruit print tablecloth (one of my favorites)...my metal vase and purple flowers...and my gold bird (that all sounds crazy!) and took off for Blytheville.  I went straight to Kroger and got some cokes...fruit napkins...green plates...cups and silverware.  All the time I was praying my co-workers would be late, so I could get everything ready before they got there.  I hurried to make a birthday poster in Publisher.

I managed to get everything ready...and here it is!

They were pleasantly surprised...and said the cake was delicious.  I got ice cream and whipped cream to go with it since the ganache was made with semi-sweet chocolate.  I ate a tiny piece as is and it was really good. 

Here are my co-workers...

Louise...who is a July 4th baby!

and

Romona, whose birthday was the last part of June.

For many years, we always traveled to the churches we ministered in...and we were always the recipients of the hospitality of others.  I desired this particular gift and I began to ask for it.  That is scriptural, Paul said to desire the best gifts.  I think God has finally given it to me.  I absolutely love trying to make others feel loved and special.  The only bummer to me was that the ganache lost its glossy appearance after it set, detracting from the "presentation" but not the taste.  A piddly detail, but there it is.

Blessings!

Dressy Chocolate Loaf

This is my latest attempt at culinary brilliance...the Dressy Chocolate Loaf.  Two of my co-workers have birthdays and I am taking it to work tomorrow to celebrate!  I saw this on another blog, which shall remain nameless (since I can't remember it).  I am always half-way into a project before I remember to take pictures...

It is a homemade chocolate cake...simple ingredients you would have on hand for the most part...flour, cocoa, sugar, butter, eggs, etc...and sour cream.  Easy to put together but with specific mixing instructions and baked in a loaf pan - a little unusual.  It baked up exactly like the recipe.

After it cools, you slice it into 3 layers and fill with your choice of jam filling...

I had some blackberry filling I made for some berry turnovers...yummy!

Then...semi-sweet chocolate melted over simmering water...

and more sour cream! 

It is amazing!  It turns quickly into a glossy ganache icing.

And the finished dressy loaf...

I'll have to let you know how it tastes...

Blessings!

Fun Times

Last week started with worship service in our home church and then a flying trip to Little Rock to celebrate Father's Day with some of our children.  We got Jay a new suit...one of his favorite things since he wears them all the time...

Then we came home on Monday and started  VBS! This year was High Seas Adventure,

(decorations courtesy of Melinda Gipson.)

 I got to lead the music, something I haven't done in a few years.  I love it!  By Wednesday, the kids knew all the motions and would literally sing their hearts out!  So sweet!  We had two young men who asked Jesus into their hearts!

We also had our almost 12 year old grandson, Pryce, with us the entire week.  He helped his Papa set things up at VBS...helped him adjust thermostats and lock up each night.  He helped different men lead the recreation time each night, even getting hit on the brow with a baseball bat and taking home the souvenier of a black eye!  He followed his Papa all week - even got to meet the Mayor of Osceola.  (12 year old boys are not fond of pictures...I didn't even try.)

Unless you have grandsons, you cannot begin to understand this...

A rabbit, uh...squirrel, uh...bird trap...rigged out of an empty plastic tub, a stick...








and when you have a Granny with no string...florist wire!
Florist wire travels from the stick, though the dining room screen...

where you can watch and spring the trap without sitting out in the heat! LOL!!











Then on Saturday, we were visited by these characters...(Chris, Cary and Sara came with them)

Jackson is 2 1/2 and he could believe this was Kandace and Millie ...but not himself!  He insisted that is not him!

Here is Millie sitting in the floor, entertaining herself!

and Kandace...eating (or wearing) mashed potatoes...yum - yum!

Fun times! 

Living with Unmet Desires

After a totally useless post on my kitchen, and while a little "entertainment" is good, today I feel led to write something I know will be profitable.

I have found that I benefit from guided study.  I seem to drift around in God's Word rather aimlessly, without one.

I am about to finish this study...

God has spoken to my heart continually through this study.

As with many studies...and conferences...I start out thinking, "I don't think I have a problem with a jealous heart", or "I'm not insecure", or whatever the topic happens to be. 

Funny how God Word open our eyes...reveals secret things in our hearts...exposes the real me! Why is that funny when Hebrews specifically states that God's Word is alive and powerful and sharp enough to divide the bone from the marrow.  He tells us it is a mirror in the book of James.  It is the truth, as opposed to everything we see and hear around us in this world.

As painful as exposure is...we cannot change...we cannot grow without it.  As long as I can deceive myself...as long as I listen to Satan's lies...I go farther from my Lord and farther from becoming all He has designed me to be - the best me!

So, before you read the title and this post and say, "That's not my problem," you might want to get a copy and dive in.  Based on 1 Samuel...you will study Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David...and I guarantee you...somewhere in those pages, you will see yourself.  Praise the Lord!  God cares enough about me to show me myself and then if I will just cooperate...change me, baby step by baby step.  He will do the same for you.

Oh, and here is a link where Word has graciously given a little peek at the study:
http://esengoministries.blogspot.com/2009/07/living-with-unmet-desires.html

Blessings!